Kylie Gillies shares a glass of Champagne with Samantha Armytage as she bids farewell to Sunrise

She’s seen a lot of journalists and media personalities move on from their careers with Channel Seven in her 24 years with the network.

And on Thursday, Kylie Gillies, 53, said goodbye to Sunrise host Samantha Armytage.

In a post shared to Instagram, Kylie appeared to be having a ball as they laughed at Samantha’s farewell lunch.  

‘We’ll always have… champagne. Love you Sam,’ Kylie captioned the upload of the duo embracing one another while holding a glass of champagne each.

The veteran broadcast presenters were captured blissfully enjoying the moment, with Kylie smiling while bending down to hug a sitting Samantha from the side.

Her post followed Kylie acknowledging the departure of ‘absolutely fabulous Sammy’ earlier in the day, by uploading a series of pictures of their time together as friends and colleagues on Channel Seven.

‘You are ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS Sammy! We’ll miss you. It’s not goodbye. But see ya’ later Darl. Xxx,’ she wrote.

Samantha tearfully announced her resignation live on air on Monday, after hosting Seven’s top-rating breakfast show for eight years. 

She said: ‘The time has come for the sun to set on my time at Sunrise. I have always been brave and fearless in my career and this decision is no different.’ 

The TV host explained she was leaving of her own choosing, and was looking forward to life away from the spotlight after a ‘bittersweet’ year that included the death of her mother, Libby, and her marriage to businessman Richard Lavender.

‘I want to step out of this public world for a while and take some time and calm things down, enjoy a bit of slow living, and spend some time with my precious family, my husband and [dog] Banjo,’ she said.

‘I go out of this job at a time of my own choosing and on top of the ratings, which not many people on television can say they do.

‘I’m extremely proud of my almost eight years at the helm of Sunrise, my seven years before that at Weekend Sunrise, and my almost 18 years with the Seven Network.’